Can opener



' Aug. 12, 1930. c, A, HENRY 1,772,665

CAN OPENER Filed April 5, 1950 INVENTOR 4 ATTORNEY mama A... la, 1930 can: A. Emir, or Darren, onro can ormmn Application filed April 6,

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in can ners.

t is the princi a1 0 ject of-my invention to rovide a simp e and eflicient device which em dies the features of a can opener, a frmt jar wrench and a bottle opener.

It is another object of my invention to so construct the device that it can be adjusted to 'fit the to of any size can orjar.

Still anot er object of my invention is to use ground steel for the cutting edge of m device, so that when a ressure is exerte this ed e will cut into t e .tin can, turning down the edges and thereby leaving the cut ed e free from rough places and snags.

51y adjustable can opener and fruit jar wrench may be economicall constructed from. steel, or any other lig 't metal, for sale at a reasonable price.

Other important and incidental objects will be brought out in the followinghspecification and particularly set forth in t e-subjoined claims.

In the accompan ing drawings illustrating my invention F igure 1 is a perspective view of my improved can opener showing the starting of the cutting operation. Figure 2 is a slde view of in device used as an adjustable jar wrench. igure 3 is a plan 3 view of the body part of the can opener,

and Figure 4 is a side view, partly in section, showing the means for connecting the handle to the body part of the can 0 ner.

Referrin to the accompanying rawings for a detar ed description of my invention the numeral 1 designates the body portion of my can opener, .which is' referably stamped from a steel blank and provided with a ground steel cutting edge 2. which tapers to acentral point 3. Formed at the middle point of the straight edgeof the blank 1 is P i'ovided near the top of the body portion 1 are two internal racks 5 which are the adjusting means for my device. The rack teeth are on opposite sides of the slots. One rack 5 is in an inverted while the other is in an upright position.

The blank 1 is bent around a center line a extending from the point 3 to the aperture 4 1930. Serial No. Lava.

in the lip 4, to form the curved body shown in Fi res 1 and 2.

. A audio 6 is then attached to the body ortion of the can. opener b extending the andle through the gear teet slots unt1l the .66

rack teeth mesh with gear teeth 7 formed on a stud 8 in the inner end of the handle.

When this connection is completed a washer 9, a nut 10, and lock nut 11 are secured on the stud 8 for the securely in place.

By a slight turn to the'right the gear teeth 7 W111 mes with the rack teeth 5 and cause the bod portion of the can opener to contract, w ereas, a slight turn to the left will result in the expansion of the opener.

When the cutter is adjusted to fit the can to be opened, a slight pressure upon the lip 4 will cause the point 3 of the steelcutting edge 2 to puncture the can thereby starting 7 the cuttlng operation. As the pressure is increased the severing operation is continued, turning down as it proceeds the cut ed e of the can, until the entire top is severe and ready for removal. (Figure 1.)

By inverting my device, as shown in Fi ure 2, I provide a jar wrench. The openerls placed In an inverted position on the jar and by a turning movement of the handle 6, the device is tightened by means of the internal racks 5. When thoroughl tightened around the lid, a shar twist of e opener will loosen the lid of t e jar and it can then easily removed.

To increase the uses of my device, I have 8 provided the handle 6 with arecessed part 13 to engage and remove the cap from a bottle. a

It is thus obvious that in addition to its use as a can opener, my device may be employed to successfully remove jar lids and bottle caps.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A can openercomprising a triangular bowed or folded blank having a base edge defining a plane and two cutting edges that meet in the apex of the blank, two mternal rack portions, one on each side of the center line of the blank and parallel with its base edge, the teeth of one rack portion facing the purpose of holding the handle base edge and the teeth of the other rack-'portion facin in the opposite direction, a handle, an r teeth on said handle adlapted to engage t e teeth of said internal racks when the blank is folded to bring the rack portiog over each other for the purposev a o 2. A can 0 ner comprising a triangular bowed or fol ed blank having a base edge m defining a plane and two cutting ed es that 7 meet in the apex of the blank, sai blank formed with two rack slots, one on each side of the center line of the blank andparallel with its base edge, the teeth in one rack slot 13 facing the base edge and the teeth of the other rack slot facing in the op osite direction, a handle, a projection on t e inner end of the handle, gear teeth formed on said proection to engage the rack teeth when the go lank is folded to bring the rack slots over each other, and means applied to the projection on the handle, be 0nd the gear teeth, to hold the latter secur y in the rack slots for the purpose specified.

5 3. A can ogener comprising a triangular bowed or fol edblank having a base edge defining a plane and two cutting edges that meet in the apex of the blank, a lip formed on the middle portion of its base ed e part,

30 said blank also formed with two rac slots,

one on each side of the center line of the blank and parallel with its base edge, the teeth in one rack slot facing the base edge and the teeth in the other rack slot facing in the at opposite direction, a handle, and gear teeth formed on said handle adapted to enga the teeth of said internal racks opposite t e li when the blank is folded to ring the rac slots over each other, for the purpose 4o specified.

4. A combination can opener and jar lid remover, com rising a triangular bowed or folded blank aving a base edge defining a plane and two cutting ed es that meet in the.

45 apex of the blank, said lank formed with two rack slots, one on each side of the center line of the blank and parallel with its base edge, the teeth in one rack slot facing the base edge and the teeth of the other rack slot facm in the o posite direction, .said blank apted to be olded around a jar lid or held in a reverse position to present its apex end to the top of a can, a handle, and gear teeth on the handle adapted to enga the'rack to teeth in either position of the 0 ded blank,

.for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 1st da of A ril, 1930.

C SHL A. HENRY. 

